What is the reference method for measuring serum glucose?

The reference method for measuring serum glucose is the hexokinase method. This technique is widely regarded as the gold standard for glucose measurement in clinical laboratories due to its high specificity and accuracy. Hexokinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate in the presence of ATP, leading to a measurable product that correlates directly with glucose concentration in the serum sample.

This method also has the advantage of being less affected by potential interferences from ketone bodies and other reducing substances, which can impact other methods of glucose measurement. As a result, the hexokinase method is used as a reference to calibrate other glucose measurement techniques and ensure their reliability.

The other methods, while commonly used in laboratory settings, do not have the same level of specificity or reliability as the hexokinase method. For example, the glucose oxidase method, while popular due to its simplicity and rapid results, can be affected by interfering substances and may not be as accurate as the reference method.